Ohio Corn & Wheat works to strengthen the future of corn and wheat farmers across the state. Part of that work includes supporting programs like Farmers for Soil Health, whose mission is to help farmers explore other practices that can keep their land productive, protect water quality, and strengthen an operation for the long term.
“Agriculture land is land we need to protect, and it’s land that our lives depend on,” commented Farmers for Soil Health’s Jessica D’Ambrosio.
A view Ohio farmers understand well. Keeping the land productive for the next crop and the generation that follows.
For Ohio farmers, that can mean reassessing how they manage their fields and considering sustainable practices such as no-till and cover crops.
That’s where programs like Farmers for Soil Health can help. Giving farmers another tool to protect their ground.
“Cover crops keep soil where it is and keep nutrients where they are. Maybe help a producer reduce inputs, or extra fertilizer they have to put on their soil,” said D’Ambrosio.
But changing a farming practice isn’t as simple as just deciding to do so.
Allen County farmer Matt Burkholder knows hesitation firsthand. Before cover crops and no-till became part of his operation, he had many of the same questions that other farmers have today.
“Farming is very costly, so it can be scary sometimes to change a practice that you have never done before.”
But over time, Matt says he’s seen what those changes can do to his farm.
“We’re seeing much better water infiltration. You know, there is good aggregate stability in the soil, there is good pore space, there is very minimal soil erosion.”
Getting started doesn’t mean having to figure it out all on your own. That’s an important part of Farmers for Soil Health.
Beyond the financial incentive, farmers can be connected with people who have already worked through many of the same questions and challenges.
“Yes, the financial incentive is nice, and in this program, we have mentors available, you know to be in contact with those who enroll,” added Burkholder.
Those mentors are not just there to talk about the benefits of cover crops. They can help farmers walk through how to make the practice fit their operation.
“We look at the cover crops. We look at the soil, and then we talk about how I planted this cover crop, what my plan is for this fall, and how I am going to plant a cash crop the following year.”
Sometimes that means walking a field. Other times, it can be a phone call or text from the tractor when a farmer has a question on planting day. It’s farmer-to-farmer advice, grounded in what is actually happening in the field.
D’Ambrosio sums up the program by saying, “It’s really, people out there, willing to give their time, really care about farming, really care about their communities, really care about the land.”
Ohio Corn & Wheat supports the work that Farmers for Soil Health is doing to help farmers keep their ground productive for the long term, protect water quality, and help farmers remain profitable.
And for farmers who remain hesitant about cover crops or no-till, Matt says it is worth considering what they want to leave behind.
“For any farmers out their that are maybe opposed to planting cover crops or hesitant to utilize no-till. I mean, I would encourage them to think about the next generation. What’s your legacy going to be?”
At the end of the day, both Burkholder and D’Ambrosio believe Farmers for Soil Health can help lower the risk of trying something new by providing incentives to help cover the cost of establishing cover crops, along with information, resources, and experienced farmers who can help along the way.
“I would encourage farmers to enroll.”
“Do it now. At least give it a try.”
If you’re interested in learning more or signing up to participate in Farmers for Soil Health, visit www.farmersforsoilhealth.
